Key holder



M. CASTRO KEY HOLDER Dec. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1` Filed Feb. 18. 19594v m mm .4 M m Awww wm .km MF @Md m 42 w W Dec. 5, 1961 M. CASTRO 3,011,537

KEY HOLDER Filed Feb. 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MwnzLeL 62mm ATTORNEYS tilt@ This invention relates to key holders for holding one or more keys in an orderly, compact, and quiet manner.

One requisite of a satisfactory key holder is that it not only be of compact configuration per se but also that it hold one or more keys compactly and lquietly without rattling. It is desirable also thatv the key holder hold the keys in an orderly manner to facilitate selection as well as insertion of a particular key in a key hole.

Another characteristic of a satisfactory key holder is that it hold the keys tightly together at all times to provide a substantially rigid assembly which acts as a handle for a particular key being used, such as when the particular key is inserted and turned in a lock.

Moreover, a key holder should be of relatively simple construction, preferably one piece, in order to minimize its cost of fabrication. At the same time, the key holder should permit engagement or disengagement of one or more keys without interfering Iwith yother keys on the holder. e Finally, the key holder should be adapted for use-with a key guard or sack into and from which the keys are readily placed or removed and at the same time the keys remain intact within the holder or sack when the keys are placed in the users pocket or purse.

Heretofore key holders of prior construction have not included all of the advantageous characteristics set forth above and have therefore been deficient for various reasons. The key holder of the present invention is composed of a single piece of metal having a configuration which holds one or more keys tightly on the holder by a Spring-biased portion of the holder which is urged against a key or keys on the holder in a new and unusual manner. The key holder is light in weight, easy to add and remove keys, retains keys without losing accidentally, and holds keys tightly together to prevent wear of keys and key holder.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a key holder which holds keys compactly and quietly without the usual rattles associated with most key holders. t

It is another object of this invention to'provide a key holder for holding keys in an orderly arrangement to facilitate selection of a particular key.

It is another object -of this invention to provide a key holder which in combination with other keys on the key holder serves as a handle for rotation of a particular key on the key holder.

It is another object of this invention to provide a key holder for one or more keys which is adapted for use with a key sack which covers most of the Vsurface of the assembled keys and key holder.

' Finally, it is any object vof this invention to provide a key holder which is of simple construction and preferably fabricated from one piece of a metal ribbon.v

These and other objects apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described diiiiculties overcome by the discoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, elements, combinations, and subcombinations which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, preferred embodiments of which-illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description and shown in drawings, and which vare particularly and dis- States Patent of the type of FIG. Y19 having tinctly pointed out and set forthv in the appended claims p forming part hereof.

rfice The nature of the vdiscoveries of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a key holder construction of substantially triangular shape having a longitudinally extending side member, a transverse shank member forming an L-shaped configuration with the side member, a spring member extending from the.end of the side member remotev from the shank member to the end of the shank member remote from the side member, the side and shank members being rigidly secured to each other, the spring and side members being rigidly secured to each other, the end of the shank member remote from the side member having an end portion extending above and below the axis of the shank member, and the end of the spring member adjacent the shank member being spring-biased toward said end portion below the shank member So that a key disposed on the shankrnember is held tightly between the spring member and the end portion of the shank member.

In the drawings whichare illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the invention by Way of example, and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts thereof;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a key holder construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a plurality of keys in the first stage of being mounted on the key holder; v

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the keys in the second stage of mounting on the key holder; v

FIG. 4 is van elevational view showing the keys in the final stage of mounting on the key holder;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the key holder having one key and an identification tag thereon;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the key and identification tagV on the key holder, as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective `View of a key guard which is mountable on the key holder; v

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly of keys, key holder, and key guard, with one key positioned for use;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of one end of the key holder;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of one end of the key holder;

, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of one end of the key holder showing an identification tag spot Iwelded thereon;

' FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a key holder attached by means of an elasticcord to a key sack;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of an assembly of several keys on theV key holder in the key sack;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the key sack shown in FIG. 13, rshowing an'opening in the sack for connection of an elastic cord;

FIG. 15 is an elevational view of a 'plurality of keys on he key'holder, which keys are disposed 'within a key sac g v FIG. 16 is a side view of the assembly of keysrand key holder mountediwithin a key sack, a portion'of which is broken away; v

FIG. 17 is an elevational view'ofa plurality of keys on the key holder mounted within the key sack shown in FIG.1.6; y

FIGS. 18, 19, and'20 are perspective views ,ofv other embodiments of the key holder; 9

FIG. 21 fis an elevational view ofthe key holder shown in FIG. l19 having -keys Amounted thereon and attached by a cord through a cover (shown in fragment); f

FIG. 22 is a perspective 'viewshowing the key holder keys mounted thereon and enclosed in a cover; f

' FIG. 23 .is a fragmentary view showing a portion of thecover of FIG. 22 and showing a segment of cord for attaching the key holder to the cover;-'

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary view showing .the manner in which the key holder of FIG. 22 and the cord of FIG. 2.3 are attached to each other;

FIG. 25 is a rear elevational view showing a cover for a key holder having an attachment clip;

FIG. 26 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 27-27 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view (partly broken away) of another embodiment of a key holder attached to a cover;

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary view showing the means by which the key holder of FIG. 28 is attached to the cover;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a key holder attached to a portion of a cover;

FIG. 3l is a perspective view of another embodiment of a. key holder having an attachment member extending therefrom; and

FIG. 32 is a perspective fragmentary view of a clip on a portion of a key holder cover showing the manner in which the key holder of FIG. 31 is attached thereto.

A key holder of the present invention, generally indicated at 1 in FIG. 1, has a substantially triangular shape with a longitudinal side member 2, a transverse shank member 3, and a spring member 4. In addition, the shank member has an end portion forming a T-shaped configuration with the member, or having any other shape that is larger than the apertures in the keys.

The key holder 1 is preferably composed of an elongated piece of metal fabricated in the shape shown in FIG. 1 so that the shank member 3 and side member 2 are rigidly connected at a bend 6. The end portion 5 is connected to the shank member 3 at a bend 7. The side member 2 and spring member 4 are connected at an end 8, whereby the entire key holder 1 is an integral unit.

The lower end of the key holder 1 where the side member 2 and spring member 4 are joined includes shorter segments 9 and 10 of the side and spring members 2 and 4, respectively, which are coextensive and substantially parallel with each other from the end 8 to reinforce the spring properties of the member 4 and maintain its upper end in either contact or close proximity with the end portion 5 in the unrestrained condition as shown in FIG. 1.

Thus the side and shank members 2 and 3, which are substantially rigidly fixed and at preferably slightly less than right angle to each other at the bend 6, constitute the frame on which one or more keys may be mounted for holding as a key holder. The spring member 4 yields against pressure applied when it is pressed toward the side member 2.

A plurality of keys 11 having apertured heads 12 may be mounted on the key holder 1 by inserting the end 8 of the holder 1 into aligned apertures 13 of the keys 11 until the uppermost key 11a contacts the shank member 3 as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the keys 11 are turned around the bend 6 (FIG. 3) until all of the keys 11 are disposed on the shank member 3. In the latter position the keys 11 are disposed between the end portion 5 and the springmember 4 where they may be held rigidly in position as shown in FIG. 3 due to the spring action of the spring member against the assembled keys 11. Thereafter, all of the keys 11 are preferably rotated through 180 about the member 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 in Vwhich the keys extend downwardly and substantially parallel with the side and spring members 2 and 4. Thereafter when a particular key 11a is selected for use itis turned upwardly out of alignment with the other keys, such as the position shown in FIG. 8.

When one or more keys 11 are mounted on the key holder 1, the spring member 4 operates against vthe key to hold. it as compactly as possible on the holder. Because of the spring action of the spring member 4, when one or more keys are on the key holder 1, the force ap- 4 plied by the spring member upon the key is transmitted throughout the entire key holder and key assembly including the key(s) 11, the side member 2, the shank member 3, and 4the end portion 5. Thus the keys 11 are held tightly upon the. key holder 1 in a non-rattling and compact manner.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower end 8 of the portions 2 and 4 is held tightly against the lower end of the adjacent key 11 while the lower extremity 14 of the end portion 5 is in contact with the adjacent key 11a. The entire assembly is held in spring tension at all times because the spring member 4 is held out of its normal position against the end portion 5 as shown in FIG. 1, by one or more keys 11.

As shown in FIG. 5, when one key 11 is mounted on the key holder the key is held tightly between the end portion S and the spring member 4. In addition, because the angle of a member 15 is less than 90 with the shank member 3, the head 12 of the key is held against the member 15 so that the lower end of the key is contiguous to` the lower end 8 of the key holder 1. The resulting assembly is a compact unit of key holder and key.

If it is desirable to provide identication means with the key holder, an identification tag 16 (FIGS. 5 and 6) may be provided, which tag is apertured at 17 for attachment to the key holder 1. The tag 16 is preferably a thin disk.

In FIG. 7 a key guard 18 is shown having a U-shaped conguration including opposite sides 19 and 20 and a base 21. The side 19 of the key guard 1S includes an extended portion 22 having an aperture 23 at the upper end thereof for attachment on a key holder 1 as shown in FIG. 8. When the key guard 18 is assembled with keys 11 on the key holder 1, the keys 11'are arranged with the key teeth adjacent the base 21 of the key guard so that the rough teeth of the keys 11 are prevented from abrading anything with which they would otherwise be in contact when placed in a pocket or handbag of the user.

In addition to the foregoing, the end portion 5 of the key holder 1 may have other embodiments than that shown in FIGS. l and 4 in which the downturned part of the end portion 5 includes adjacent members 24 and 25. Other embodiments of the end portion 5 are shown in FIGS. 5, 9, 10 and ll. In FIG. 5 the end portion S includes the member 15 and a member 26 which are spaced to provide an open loop 27 as shown.

In FIG. 9 another embodiment of the end member is shown at 2S on the end of the shank member 3, which embodiment includes upper and lower portions 29 and 30 extending above and below the shank member 3. The portions 29 and 30 are silghtly spaced from each other to provide a spacing 31 between the overlapping parts of said portions.

Another embodiment of an end portion of the shank member 3 is generally indicated at 32 in FIG. l0, in which upper and lower parts 33 and 34 are provided by splitting an end segment of the shank member 3 and bending the resulting half-segments in opposite directions.

Still another embodiment of the end portion of the Shank member 3 is generally indicated at 35 in FIG..ll in which a disk, preferably composed of metal, is secured to a downturned part 36 of the member 3, such as by a spot weld 37. The disk 35 is disposed so that a portion of the disk extends substantially above and below the shank member 3.

All of the embodiments of the end portions shown in FIGS. l, 5, 9, 10, and 11 have a common structure in that each construction includes portions which extend above as well as below the shank member 3. It is necessary for the operation of the key holder 1 that the end portion have parts above and'below the cross portion in orderto keep the keys in place on the shank member 3; When the key V11a adjacent -theend portion 5 isup as shown in FIG. 3, the upper part of the end portion 5 prevents the end key 11a from slipping off the shank member 3 due to pressure of the spring portion 4. Likewise, when the key 11a adjacent the end p ortion 5 1s down as in FIG. 4, the lower part of theV end portion 5 is necessary for the same reason. y

The key holder 1 may be used in combination with a pouch or sack 38 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. For that purpose the key holder 1 is preferably secured to the sack by an elastic cord 39, one end of which extends through the spacing 31 in the end portion 28 of the key holder while the other end of the cord is secured to a fastening means 40 within the sack 38. The sack 38 is composed of a relatively flexible material such as leather, and is fabricated from a flat sheet of such material with ends sewn together at a seam 41. The upper side of the sack 38 is open and preferably scalloped while the lower side is closed by the fastening means 40, which may be an eyelet or snap as shown in FIG. 12, or stitching 42 as shown in FIG. 13. Where the lower end of the sack 38 is closed by stitching 42, means for securing one end of the elastic core 39 to the inside of the sack may be provided by an opening 43 (FIG. 14) which is provided in the sack when it is cut from a flat blank of exib'le material such as leather. A connecting strip 44 extends between half-portions 45 and 46 of the sack 38 to which the elastic cord 39 Vis* attached as shown in FIG. 13, in which an assembly of keys 11 and key holder 1 is disposed within the sack'38. Another embodiment of a cover or sack means is indicated at 47 in FIG. 15 in which a key holder 1 is shown on which keys 11'are mounted. The cover or sack 47 is composed of a flexible material such as leather composed of two halfeportions folded on a fold line 48 with the upper end 49 open and the side 50 opposite the fold line 48 open. The lower side of the sack is closed by stitching 51. Near the open top of the sack 47 a pair of eyelets 52 and 53 are provided in alignment with each other for passage of the shank member 3 of the key holder 1. The eyelet 53 is disposed between the end portion 5 of the key holder and one key 11. Likewise the eyelet 52 is disposed between one key and the spring portion 4 of the key holder. As shown in FIG. 15, the side and spring portions 2 and 4 are disposed outside of the cover 47 with the keys 11 mounted inside.

Another embodiment of the sack or cover is indicated at 54 in FIGS. 16 and 17.` Like the sack or cover 47 (FIG. the sack 54 is composed of two half-portions 55 and 55 which when folded together along a fold line 57 provide an open upper end 58, and an open side 59. The lower end is closed by stitching 60. At the upper end of the half-portion 56 of the sack 58 a strip 61 of flexible material is secured, such as by stitching 62, to the inside surface of said half-portion. Likewise, a strip 63 of ilexible material is secured by stitching 64 to the upper inner side of the half-portion 55. Both strips 61 and 63 are preferably composed of material similar to that of the sack or cover 58l such as leather. Below the stitchings 62 and 64 the strips 61 and 63 are provided with eyelets 65 and 66 respectively, which eyelets are aligned for receipt of the shank member 3 of the key holder 1 onwhich keys 11 are mounted. As shown in FIG. 17, the entire assembly of the key holder 1 and keys 11 is disposed within the cover 54, and one or more keys 11 may be extracted by rotating a key about the member 3 and outwardly through the open side of the cover 54.

Other embodiments of the invention are generally indicated at 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, and 72 as shown in FIGS. 18, 19, 20, 28, 30, and 31, respectively. The key holder 67 differs from key holder 1 in that the former includes a shank member 73 which is preferably arcuate for longer shank members adapted to accommodate a larger number of keys.

The key holder 69 differs from the key holder 1 in that the latter includes an end portion generally indicated at 74 having a clip 75 for attachment of the key holder 69 to a part of the users clothing, `such as a belt. The end portion 74 including the clip 75 differs from the end portion 5 of the key holder 1 in that no part of the end portion 74 extends above a shank member 76 thereof. I-Iowever, the end portion 74 with the clip 75 functions to prevent a key from escaping from the shank member 76 because the over-all mass of the end portion 74 with the clip 75 is greater than the diameter of an aperture in the head of `any key attached to the key holder.

The key holder 68 (FIG. 19) includes two similar sides generally indicated at 77 and 78, each side being similar in most respects to a single key holder as set forth above. The sides each include side portions 79 and 80, shank members 81 and 82, and spring members 83 and 84. In addition, the key holder 68 includes a central dividing portion 85 and the entire key holder is composed of a single piece of metal. As shown in FIG. 2l, the key holder 68 may be mounted on both sides by a plurality of keys 86 which are attached from opposite ends of corresponding sides. As in the key holder 1, the spring members 83 and 84 hold the keys 86 on each side tightly against the dividing portion 85. In addition, the dividing portion 85 forms an opening 87 to which a cord or elastic member 88 may be attached at one end for securing the assembled key holder 68 and keys 86 into a pouch or cover similar to the pouch 38 (FIG. 12), a portion of which is generally indi-cated at 89. vThe lower end of the cord 88'may be secured to a snap or eyelet 90.

As shown in FIGS. 22, 23, and 24, the key holder 68 with the keys 86 may be secured within a key case 91, the back side 92 of which is provided with a strip 93 of material such as leather stitched at 94 for securing a cord or elastic member 95 (FIG. 23). The opposite ends of the cord are extended through the opening 87 and knotted as shown in FIG. 24.

The key holder 68 may be detachably mounted in a key case 96 in the manner shown in FIGS. 25, 26, and 27. The back of the key case 96 is provided with a metal clip 97 by means of a plurality of prongs 98 extending through the back side of the key case 96 and Vthrough an apertured disk 99 having a shaft or prong 100 rigidly extending outwardly therefrom (FIG. 26). The prong 100 has a knob 101 at the outer end thereof. As shown in FIG. 27, the key holder 68 is mounted on the prong 100 by placing the opening 87 of the dividing portion 85 thereon. The key holder 68 may be attached or detached from the prong 100 simply by squeezing the lower opposite ends of the sides 77 and 78 together whereby the upper sides of the contacting dividing portion 85 separate yieldingly suiliciently to permit passage of the shaft 100.

In FIG. 28 the key holder 78 is slidably mounted on a strip 102 of material forming a loop with opposite ends stitched at 103 to one side of a pouch or sack 104. The key holder 70 is an inverted U-shaped member having side portions 105 and 106, a shank member 107, and spring members 108 and 109, the upper ends of which are spring-biased toward each other as shown. The lower ends of the side portion 105 and spring member 108 are secured to each other at a bend 110 in a U-shaped manner tov form spacing between said portion and member when the holder 70 is loaded with keys Ito permit sliding of the side portion 105 up and between the strip 102 and the pouch 104. The key holder 70 may be loaded cornpletely from one side, namely the side including the side portion 106 and spring member 109, until both spring members 108 and 109 are compressed in a manner similar to the spring members 83 and 84 of the key holder 68.

As shown in FIG. 30, the key holder 71 is mounted on a rigid ilange 111 attached by rivet means 112 to one side of a key case 1.13. The key holder 71 resembles the key holder 70 with the exception that both lower ends` 110 as in the key holder 70. vThe key holder 71 includes a shank member 114 which is slidably disposed in an aperture 115 in the ange 111. Keys may be loaded from either end of the key holder 71 for distribution on opposite sides of the ilange 111.

The key holder 72 is similar to the key holder 68 (FIG. 19) with the exception that the former has an outturned central member 116 forming part of a shank member 117 thereof. The outer end of the member 116 forms an opening 118 for securing the key holder 72, either by means of a key chain or otherwise, to the clothing of a user. In the alternative, -the key holder 72 may be attached to a key case, a portion of which is indicated at 119, having a metallic clip means 120 secured thereto by rivet means 121. The clip means 120 is extended through the opening 118 as shown in FIG. 32.

All of the pouches or sacks 38, 47, 54, 91, 96, 104, 113, and 119 are composed of a soft pliable material such as leather. However, each key holder may be used with or without a pouch or sack.

The several embodiments of key holders described hereinabove all include the basic elements of a side member, a shank member or cross portion, and a spring member. In addition, each embodiment includes means at one end of the shank member or cross portion against which keys are compressed by the spring portion of the key holder, whether the key holder includes one or two spring portions. With the single key holder having one spring portion it is necessary to provide key blocking members such as end portions 5, 28, 32, 35, and 74 having over-all dimensions greater than the diameter of the apertures in the heads of the keys to prevent the keys from slipping olf the shank or cross portion. With the double key holder having a pair of spring portions a central portion such as divider 85 (FIG. 19) or the outturned member 116 (FIG. 31) may or may not be included so that double key holders such as key holders 70 and 71 have no central divider. However, the key holders 70 and 71 do provide means for preventing the easy escapement of keys from the key holder, which means include either side of the key holder including its spring member. A unique advantage of the above described key holders is that they are all fabricated Afrom a single piece of metal, except disk 35 (FIG. 11).

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the features, constructions and principles of the invention, the characteristics of the new key holder, and the advantageous, new and useful results provided; the new and useful discoveries, principles, parts, elements, combinations, subcombinations, structures, and arrangements, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A key holder and pouch combination in which the key holder is detachably mounted in the pouch, including a prong xedly mounted on the inside surface of the pouch, the key holder having a pair of longitudinal side portions spaced from each other, a transverse shank portion extending between corresponding ends of the side portions, an intermediate longitudinal portion eX- tending outwardly from and separating the transverse shank portion into two equal segments, the intermediate portion having a prong-receiving opening formed by overlapping parts thereof, a rst spring portion extending from the end of one of the side portions remote from the shank portion to the intermediate longitudinal portion, a second spring portion extending from the end of the other side portion remote from the shank portion to the other side of the intermediate portion, the spring portions being spring-biased toward the intermediate portion for holding a key tightly on the end shank segment and in abutment with the intermediate portion, the end of each longitudinal portion remote from the transverse lshank portion being spring-biased in compact engagement with a key mounted on the key holder, and all of said portions being part of one elongated metallic member.

2. A key holder and pouch combination in which the key holder is detachably mounted in the pouch, the pouch including a prong extending from the inner surface thereof, the key holder including an elongated metallic member having a substantially E-shape, a pair of side portions spaced from each other, an interconnecting shank portion extending between the ends of the side portions, the shank portion including a central divider portion extending substantially parallel to the end portions and separating the shank portion into two segments extending in opposite directions, the divider portion including two adjacent segments of the metallic member and forming a prong-receiving opening therebetween, .a spring portion extending from the end of each side portion remote from the shank portion to the side of the central divider portion facing the side portion, the ends of the spring portions being spring-biased toward the central divider portion and the ends constituting opposite ends of the elongated metallic member, each of the several portions and segments being separated from adjacent portions and segments by bends in the metallic member, the spring-biased portions holding a key tightly on each segment and in abutment with the central divider portion, and the end of each side portion remote from the shank portion being in compact abutment with -a key on the key holder.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 605,584 Mufy June 14, 1898 1,025,520 Douglass May 7, 1912 1,425,089 Henry Aug. 8, 1922 1,649,402 Gildmeister Nov. 15, 1927 1,909,735 Vavrosky May 16, 1933 1,945,932 Caley Feb. 6, 1934 2,198,109 Fischer Apr. 23, 1940 2,793,523 Castro May 28, 1957 

